Monday, September 05, 2016

The burkini

In Sydney bathing wear is called cozzies, that is the swimming costume Sydney people wear. In Melbourne we call them bathers, speedos or swimmers, well we used to. I don't know about now. Revealing Speedos I hope but sadly often enough some sad arse baggy swimming shorts.

Blogger Shannon in Speedo style swimmers. Not so shabby, hey. This is proper Australian beach wear that the young should aspire to. Not horrid baggy surf shorts. There is only so much imagination one can use.

The niquab some Moslem women wear is horrid. I don't like people hiding their faces. I don't like men, religions or cultures telling women how they should cover up and I don't like the culture of women being second status in the world by the way they have to dress. I don't like women who say it is about modesty and the worst are those who say it is my choice and my husband does not insist on it. Like the hell he doesn't and the word subjugation comes to mind. I don't like women being segregated in society because of religious belief or culture.

But in my almost six decades on this earth, I have seen some really silly bathing costumes. I remember the day Mother told me she was too old to wear a bikini when we were sitting on the beach at Rose Avenue, Cowes. As I recall, her last bikini was white with large black polka dots and a bloke tried to pick her up on the beach. So many years ago.

But protests against the Moslem female beach and swimming wear, the burkini? People can't dress as they want at the beach anymore? Before we know it, we will have beach inspectors back in Australia, policing what women wear when lying on the sand. Australia has a long history of people wearing absurd costumes at the beach. Why not one more? Really France, surely you have more to worry about than people wearing weird clothing at the beach.

Back in the early times it was not just women who covered themselves in the middle east. Men did it too, and logically one can understand why. It was very hot, and sunburn was a Big Deal. Sunscreen was not readily available for people to use.

I do not know how or why it became a woman only thing and men can wear whatever they like. I am not a fan of that concept, like yourself.

I am not a fan of sunscreen myself and would prefer to cover as much as possible, which I achieve with rash vests and compression leggings, wide brimmed hats, etc. I am just as covered up as the women in a "burkhini" but because it does not have the hair covering part like the burkhini, nobody is going to be upset by seeing what I am wearing.

I was really disturbed on going to Jamberoo water park once and seeing one woman in a Burkhini surrounded by the men of her party who were all in speedos. I would have preferred the men to be in burkhinis too. For fairness reasons, mostly!

Snoskred, you and R are at one. Long did he rant when we were in Malaysia about the visiting Middle Eastern couples, the woman in full black robe with her face hidden and husband in modern western dress.

As Antikva pointed out to me, kids in Qld dress like this because of the stinger jellyfish and no-one says a word. I would love a Burkini, covers everything except my hair.If that up there is my Christmas present, you can send him now.

Crikey ... You peeps have it all wrong. The beach is for fun. Wear nothing like me! Plenty of people wear black wet suits and no one complains. That weird burkini thing doesn't look too comfy, aye? I just don't understand why only the Sheilas have to cover up in the name of religion. Shouldn't the blokes have to too? Weird things you peeps ... Charlie! Oh Mum reckons that Shannon bloke looks a bit of alright!

Charlie, no men should not have to cover up. I think it is rather delicious that I can see male nipples on the beach but straight men generally can't see female nipples on the beach. No, the burkini doesn't look great for the beach, but it is their problem. I don't care. Charlie, you have rather a lot of hair to hide your bits and so you can go au natural to the beach.

We call them bathers here and they are togs in QLD. I have none. Maybe an old-fashioned swimming dress would be my style now that I'm more dumpling shaped. One with a waterproof pocket to hold my bus pass and keys.

On the other hand, the burkini wearers are guaranteed not to get sunburn. I'm reminded of a young girl who limped in to work one day, a bright tomato red colour all over and clearly unable to stand up for long, the boss sent her home and we didn't see her for a week.

I completely agree with you ! Except on one thing the burkini. Not because for it's religious purposes, I don't care, but going with that thing in a swimming pool is not hygienic at all like long shorts for man, because it soaks up all the water. It's OK on a beach and I find it nice actually, because some women would better look in a burkini then in a bikini with 3 bellies hanging out ! Same for men with a beer belly !

Gattina, so that is a problem for the person who is wearing the burkini? Doesn't matter then. Their choice. Funnily, I think German women are the worst offenders by wearing bikinis when they clearly shouldn't.

I can see the appeal of the 'budgie smugglers' to you Andrew but I bet there are very few women who find them eye catching.. eye watering more like 😊😊 I remember the first time my BIL wore them in our pool, let's just say Aimee bought him a pair of boardies for Christmas 😁

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